Jan. 3rd, 2008
9:23 A.M.
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 2 (Side Alley)
As the sun came over the horizon of concrete and steel buildings, I woke up with a startle. My legs were stiff and I had a horrible headache. My neck has never been stiffer before. I should not have drank so much whiskey with the other guys last night but when one gets a tip of 100 baht from a silly foreign, you might as well celebrate the situation. But sleeping in the back of my Tuk Tuk could be the real cause of my neck ache this morning.
My Tuk-tuk
Today was another day on the busy Bangkok streets and to support my family I need to start the day now and look for some customers. It is not easy competition nowadays. There are so many different types of transportation in the city. We have metered taxis, motorcycle taxis, bus, sky-train, and a subway. Most of these modes of transportation have a set price but with my vehicle when ever anyone gets in I have to negotiate. This may sound exciting to those that do not have to do it everyday but after 6 years, it starts to get old. Most days I only make marginal profits as I have to rent this Tuk-tuk each day. So my first stop is to pay my boss on Sukhumvit Soi 16. My plans for today is always the same as every other day, I will drive up and down Sukhumvit until 8 pm tonight. I better get off to see my boss.
Jan. 3rd, 2008
12:44 PM
Location: Sukhumvit
So far I have made a good amount of money. This morning I was able to pay off my debt for the use of the tuk-tuk for another 24 hours and was able to get an omelet on top of rice. But I am getting hungry again and have only made 200 baht so far. With gas prices ever increasing, I am not sure how I will be able to support my family in the country side. There are even day whenI wonder if I can simply support myself. But so far I have had some luck today. I pray to Buddha that he brings me more good luck for the sake of my family.
Jan. 3rd, 2008
3:21 PM
Location: Sukhumvit
Things have really started to pick up. I was able to convince one farang (foreigner) to pay me 100 baht for a ride that I would usually charge a local 30 baht for. But I also had another foreign who has obviously lived in Bangkok for a long time. His Thai was very good and he was dressed up in a very nice suit. He had another gentlemen with him dressed the same and even look somewhat similar but he did not say a word to me. I drove them quite far along Sukhumvit for only 50 baht which was a bad idea but I needed the money for food and he was a very good negotiator. As of now I have been all over the Sukhumvit area and am up to 350 baht which is close to how much it cost me to rent the tuk tuk for one day.
Jan. 3rd, 2008
8:59 PM
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 2
Well it has been a very long day. I managed to make a profit of just over 230 baht after paying off my boss and refueling costs. Yesterday Buddha was much more on my side as I made close 400 baht profit mainly because a group of young drunk farang gave me a 200 baht tip. For the rest of the night will grab a little bit to eat and then hang out with the rest of the guys. Who know what we will do? Maybe play some cards, sing or just relax. I just hope that tomorrow we will being me more luck than today.
Works Cited Page
Name: **Sakda**
Job: Tuk-Tuk Driver
LifeTrip Area: Sukhumvit Ave. Bangkok Thailand
Jan. 3rd, 2008
9:23 A.M.
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 2 (Side Alley)
As the sun came over the horizon of concrete and steel buildings, I woke up with a startle. My legs were stiff and I had a horrible headache. My neck has never been stiffer before. I should not have drank so much whiskey with the other guys last night but when one gets a tip of 100 baht from a silly foreign, you might as well celebrate the situation. But sleeping in the back of my Tuk Tuk could be the real cause of my neck ache this morning.
Today was another day on the busy Bangkok streets and to support my family I need to start the day now and look for some customers. It is not easy competition nowadays. There are so many different types of transportation in the city. We have metered taxis, motorcycle taxis, bus, sky-train, and a subway. Most of these modes of transportation have a set price but with my vehicle when ever anyone gets in I have to negotiate. This may sound exciting to those that do not have to do it everyday but after 6 years, it starts to get old. Most days I only make marginal profits as I have to rent this Tuk-tuk each day. So my first stop is to pay my boss on Sukhumvit Soi 16. My plans for today is always the same as every other day, I will drive up and down Sukhumvit until 8 pm tonight. I better get off to see my boss.
Jan. 3rd, 2008
12:44 PM
Location: Sukhumvit
So far I have made a good amount of money. This morning I was able to pay off my debt for the use of the tuk-tuk for another 24 hours and was able to get an omelet on top of rice. But I am getting hungry again and have only made 200 baht so far. With gas prices ever increasing, I am not sure how I will be able to support my family in the country side. There are even day whenI wonder if I can simply support myself. But so far I have had some luck today. I pray to Buddha that he brings me more good luck for the sake of my family.
Jan. 3rd, 2008
3:21 PM
Location: Sukhumvit
Things have really started to pick up. I was able to convince one farang (foreigner) to pay me 100 baht for a ride that I would usually charge a local 30 baht for. But I also had another foreign who has obviously lived in Bangkok for a long time. His Thai was very good and he was dressed up in a very nice suit. He had another gentlemen with him dressed the same and even look somewhat similar but he did not say a word to me. I drove them quite far along Sukhumvit for only 50 baht which was a bad idea but I needed the money for food and he was a very good negotiator. As of now I have been all over the Sukhumvit area and am up to 350 baht which is close to how much it cost me to rent the tuk tuk for one day.
Jan. 3rd, 2008
8:59 PM
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 2
Well it has been a very long day. I managed to make a profit of just over 230 baht after paying off my boss and refueling costs. Yesterday Buddha was much more on my side as I made close 400 baht profit mainly because a group of young drunk farang gave me a 200 baht tip. For the rest of the night will grab a little bit to eat and then hang out with the rest of the guys. Who know what we will do? Maybe play some cards, sing or just relax. I just hope that tomorrow we will being me more luck than today.
Works Cited Page
1. "Curency Converter." Yahoo Finance. 12 Jan. 2008. Yahoo! 11 Jan. 2008 <http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=200&from=THB&to=USD&submit=Convert>.
2. McMillan, Ron. "Bangkok Tuk Tuk Taxi." RonMcMillan. 2005. Tourism Authority of Thailand. 11 Jan. 2008 <http://ronmcmillan.googlepages.com/tuktuk>.
3. "Thai Baby Names." Thai Baby Network. 2008. Moab Group. 11 Jan. 2008 <http://www.babynamenetwork.com/origin.cfm?origin=Thai>.